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Red Cross Day in Oklahoma

The Legislature did something productive today. Here’s a press release from the speaker’s office:

Lawmakers approved a resolution today to designate March 3 as Red Cross Day and March as Red Cross Month.

House Resolution 1009, by state Rep. Joe Dorman, recognizes the Red Cross for its work in responding to an average of 200 disasters nationally each year and its history of service over the past century.

“I was honored to carry the resolution recognizing the Red Cross, the month of March being Red Cross Month in Oklahoma,” Dorman, D-Rush Springs, said. “People don’t realize how much this organization impacts our state. They hold bood drives providing the needed blood in case of tragedy or just if someone needs a transfusion. Last year, in my district, every single home lost power during the ice storm. The Red Cross was there providing supplies and assistance at the shelters. We were all very grateful for their service.”

“Officially, March is Red Cross Month. We’re very excited to talk about the mission of the Red Cross and the good work we do in the state of Oklahoma,” Bella said.

John D. Points, chairman of the board of directors for the American Red Cross Blood Services, Southwest Region, noted the Legislature’s passage of a bill last year that allowed 16-year-olds to donate blood with parental permission.

“Our donor base is aging. One of the most important things we can do right now is to recruit young people and minorities to be the next generation of donors,” Points said. “This enables us, by allowing the donor age to be 16 years old, to have more people to start to donate and to have that heart for giving, for donations.”